If I were stranded on a deserted island, my 3 non-negotiable items would be food, water, and access to Pinterest. I’m being so serious. I clock in to Pinterest like it’s my 9-5.Â
What is Pinterest, and why is it the best app ever? Pinterest is a lifestyle app where users can upload aesthetic pictures, arts and crafts tutorials, recipes, travel itineraries, home design inspo, and so much more. As a user, you can save these pins into boards of your own creation, organizing all your different hobbies and interests. Need picture inspo for an upcoming vacation, dress ideas for an event, or craft ideas to do with your friends on a lazy Sunday? Get on Pinterest, they have it all.
Like any other app, Pinterest uses an algorithm, noting your previously saved pins to curate a home feed catered 100% to you. Anyone of any age and gender can use Pinterest, curating a home feed that matches their vibes and interests.
Pinterest can also be used as a shopping tool! See a pair of shoes you like? Pinterest has a scan feature that will scan the rest of the internet for similar images. Instead of scrolling through TikTok comments to find out what sweater an influencer is wearing, Pinterest does it in under 3 seconds, often bringing you directly to the online shop’s site.Â
One thing I really like about this app is that, unlike other social media apps, no one on Pinterest cares about how many followers you have or how many likes their uploaded pins are getting. It’s solely a platform for creativity. With that being said, you can engage with other users on the app. I have shared boards with friends where we save pins for an upcoming event we have to decorate for or to romanticize our junior years. This semester, I am studying abroad, and I have a shared board with some of my roommates here where we collectively save fun travel spots, restaurants and cafes, and photos we want to recreate.
Pinterest, for me, has turned into a little virtual mood board. All aspects of who and what I identify as can be organized and created into interactive boards. Pinterest has not only inspired hands-on projects but has also helped me when I’m in a mental rut. I literally have a board called “turning it around” with wholesome motivation quotes, self-care exercises, and fun recipes to try whenever I am feeling emotionally drained.Â
I have been on Pinterest since 7th grade, but I have been a religious user since high school. In total, I have over 22,000 pins saved to my respective boards. Many of my favorite outfits I’ve worn, some of my best paintings and crafts, and places I’ve traveled to have been inspired by pins I’ve seen on Pinterest. So if you ever catch me scrolling on Pinterest mid lecture, literally mind your business, I’m in my element.